IRAs, 401(k)s, and Beneficiary Assets
Retirement accounts and other beneficiary assets do not pass through your will or your trust — they go straight to whoever is named on the beneficiary form. That is convenient, and it is also where a lot of plans quietly go wrong: a stale beneficiary designation overrides everything else you signed. Inherited IRAs also come with the 10-year payout rule and real tax consequences. These guides cover how IRAs, 401(k)s, annuities, and payable-on-death accounts fit into your plan, when to name the trust and when not to, and what heirs face when they inherit these accounts. To check your own designations, talk to Eric.
IRAs and 401(k)s
- 2026 Estate Plan: Vital Life Updates Now — Source: images.unsplash.comIntroduction Overview of Estate Planning Estate planning is a fundamental process that involves organizing a…
- Does Your Spouse Automatically Get Your 401(k)? ERISA vs. IRA Rules — For a 401(k), federal law makes your spouse the beneficiary unless they sign a notarized waiver — IRAs work completely differently. The b…
Beneficiary designations
- Are Payable-on-Death Accounts as Good as a Trust? (California) — POD and TOD accounts avoid probate cheaply but cover nothing if you're incapacitated and can't protect minor or special-needs heirs. When…
- What Happens to Your HSA When You Die? Beneficiary Rules — A spouse inherits an HSA tax-free; anyone else owes income tax on the whole balance that year. The exact rules, plus California's HSA tax…
More guides
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- CRUT: Unlock Income & Support Charity — How a Charitable Remainder Unitrust (CRUT) Can Pay You for Life—and Support a Cause You Love If you’re a California resident with…
- Can You Change an Irrevocable Trust in California? — Irrevocable doesn't mean untouchable. Beneficiary consent, court modification, decanting, and trust protectors — the real ways to change an…
- Charitable Giving in Estate Planning: Protecting Wealth and Values — Charitable giving in estate planning benefits your legacy, reduces taxes, and avoids probate. Learn California legal strategies, trust…
- Charitable Giving: Estate Plan How-To 2026 — Understanding Charitable Giving in Estate Planning Charitable giving in estate planning is a thoughtful way to ensure that your values and…
- Do I Need an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust in my Estate Plan? — Are you considering an irrevocable life insurance trust as part of your estate plan? Several reasons make this piece of an estate plan…
- How to Claim Savings Bonds and TreasuryDirect After a Death — Paper bonds, TreasuryDirect accounts, and the Treasury's own no-probate procedure for small holdings. The forms, the interest-tax electio…
- How to Create a Legacy with Charitable Trusts — How to Create a Legacy with Charitable Trusts Leaving a lasting legacy is something many of us aspire to, and charitable trusts offer a…
- How to Include Charitable Giving in Your Estate Plan — Estate planning is not just about distributing your assets among your loved ones; it's also an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the…
- How to Transfer Stocks and Brokerage Accounts After a Death in California — TOD registrations, trust accounts, medallion signature guarantees, and the small-estate affidavit — how deceased relatives' investment ac…
- Life Insurance: Estate Planning Guide 2026
- Revocable Trusts: Flexibility and Control in Estate Planning — Revocable Trusts: Flexibility and Control in Estate Planning Estate planning often feels overwhelming and complex, but it doesn’t have to…
- Revocable vs Irrevocable Trust in California: Which One? — For a typical California homeowner the answer is almost always a revocable living trust. Here's the plain-English difference, and the tax…
- The Dangers of Adding Your Children to Your Bank Account: Why Its a Terrible Idea — Joint bank account with your child exposes savings to their creditors, divorce, and elder abuse. May disinherit other children. Better…
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